For the third consecutive year, the Marin Catholic High girls lacrosse team captured an MCAL championship. But the latest chapter to the Wildcats' success story involved some unexpected stress.

Facing Novato — a team Marin Catholic had defeated 16-4 a month earlier — in Kentfield on Friday, the Wildcats had to overcome two two-goal deficits in the first half and a one-goal deficit early in the second half before pulling away for a 13-8 victory.

"They wanted it," Marin Catholic coach Whitney Hanley said of the Hornets in assessing the difference between the teams' two meetings. "I think Novato came out stronger than we did and I think they knew they were the underdogs and they went for it. And they had a lot of confidence, which does a lot in a game."

Fortunately for top-seeded Marin Catholic, the Wildcats were not lacking in that department themselves. Despite the first-half struggles, Marin Catholic (18-4) was able to stick to its game plan. And eventually, that led to a stingier defensive effort and more offensive heroics from K.C. Hill, who netted four second-half goals. Her first gave Marin Catholic its first lead of the day, 6-5, early in the second half and from there she helped the Wildcats keep Novato at bay.

"Novato really came out with a lot of fire," Hill said. "They wanted it from the last time. They really worked hard and they gave us a run for the money in the first half. And at that time, we were like, 'We've got to pick it up a little bit.' And we definitely picked it up in the second half and played like the team I know us to be."

For second-seeded Novato (17-3), which was paced by Tatum Figone's three goals, the effort was seen as an encouraging turn of events despite the outcome.

"There's no disappointment at all," Hornets coach Rory Daly said. "We come into every game with the thought of winning, but knowing what we were up against, and our history with them, nobody's head is down. We came to play and it showed."

Novato got early goals from Figone to take a 2-0 lead before Megan Rooney got the Wildcats on the scoreboard. By halftime, Marin Catholic had evened the score at 4-4. And despite the fact that Novato regained its lead when Jensen Neff scored 12 seconds into the second half, Marin Catholic's defense generally slowed the Hornets in the second half.

"We started to get nervous when they scored their first few goals," Marin Catholic defender Juliana Strazulo said. "But we knew the whole time that if we just kept our heads up and kept playing as a team and getting the groundballs that we could do it."

That came to fruition, resulting in Marin Catholic's players raising yet another championship banner afterward.

"Of course not," Hanley said when asked if the title run was getting mundane. "That's only three in a row and Redwood has about five."

Now, both teams can turn their attention to the North Coast Section playoffs, which begin next week. The teams will learn their seeds on Sunday.

"I definitely think we've got nothing to feel down about," said Novato senior Kennedy Clark, who had a goal in the game. "This was definitely our favorite game this season, this is what we worked for. Now we'll look to the (NCS playoffs) and hopefully get a chance to play them again."